The Best Places to Photograph in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

St. John Harbour by Michel Rathwell / CC BY 2.0

The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador includes the island of Newfoundland, as well as surrounding islands, and the Labrador Peninsula on the mainland. This area is a paradise for photographers with natural beauty everywhere.

On this page we’ll highlight many of the best places to photograph within the province. The island of Newfoundland and surrounding islands account for more than 90% of the population of Newfoundland and Labrador, and most of that is on the Avalon Peninsula. Many other areas are remote. Most of the locations listed here are along the coast of Newfoundland.

Because of its location, traveling to Newfoundland and Labrador requires some planning. The island can be accessed by boat or plane. In some places within the province roads are limited, which increases the need for planning. This page has good information about getting there and getting around.

The interactive map below shows the locations covered on this page.

Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park is located on the western side of Newfoundland on the Great Northern Peninsula, and along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is the second largest national park in Canada, behind only Torngat Mountains National Park. The park is named for Gros Morne, the second highest mountain peak in Canada. The park is known for its rock formations of ocean crust and the earth’s mantle that lie exposed on the surface.

There is plenty to photograph here: mountain views, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, rocks, and the Tablelands, a barren desert-like area. Also, Western Brook Pond is a glacial fjord with very pure water. Pissing Mare Falls is a 350 meter waterfall within the park.

The park has many hiking trails, with several day hikes including a trek to the peak of Gros Morne Mountain. The interior of the park is difficult to access.

Gros Morne National Park by Natalie Lucier / CC BY 2.0

Bonne Bay

Bonne Bay is within Gros Morne National Park. The bay separates the Great Northern Peninsula from the rest of the island. This is a beautiful area where you can photograph the small town on the bay.

Bonne Bay by Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Norris Point

Norris Point is located on the north side of Bonne Bay. Here you will find excellent views for photographs.

Norris Point by Kenny Louie / CC BY 2.0

Rocky Harbour

Rocky Harbour is a small town on the north side of Bonne Bay, providing access to Gros Morne National Park. It is about 10 km northwest of Norris Point. From here you can photograph Bonne Bay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the coast.

Rocky Harbour by TravelingOtter / CC BY-SA 2.0

Arches Provincial Park

Arches Provincial Park is north of Gros Morne National Park and is easy to access by the Viking Trail scenic route. The park features a natural arch rock formation. You can park fairly close to the arches and explore the coast.

Arches Provincial Park by Roger TO / CC BY 2.0

Terra Nova National Park

Terra Nova National Park is in eastern Newfoundland along inlets of Bonavista Bay. The park features rugged coastline, cliffs, exposed headlands, boreal forest, coves, and more. The park has many hiking trails of varying lengths, and several campgrounds where you can stay. One of the best ways to experience the park is by kayak. There aren’t a lot of roads in the park, but the Trans Canada Highway does go through it.

Terra Nova National Park by Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Bonavista

Bonavista is a small town at the tip of the Bonavista Peninsula. It is northeast of Terra Nova National Park. Along the peninsula you’ll find a beautiful coast to photograph. Bonavista has a lighthouse and is a good place to spot puffins, whales, and icebergs.

Bonavista by Kenny Louie / CC BY 2.0

Dungeon Provincial Park

Dungeon Provincial Park is one of the highlights of Bonavista. This park features beautiful natural arches and a collapsed sea cave. This is a small park with a road that runs through it. There is also a hiking trail that provides excellent views along the coast.

Dungeon Provincial Park by Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Elliston

Elliston is a town on the Bonavista Peninsula and is known for being a great place to see and photograph puffins. It also has a nice, rugged coastline. There is a puffin viewing site that is a home to many puffins, typically from May through September. The Maberly Scenic Loop, very close to the puffin viewing site, provides excellent views.

Elliston by Kenny Louie / CC BY 2.0

Trinity

Trinity is a small, picturesque town in eastern Newfoundland on the Bonavista Peninsula. There are a several historic buildings in the town. You can catch a nice view of the town and the harbour for your photographs.

Trinity by Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Skerwink Trail

The Skerwink Trail is a 5 km loop trail that provides plenty of great views along the way. It is located near Trinity East. You can find some outstanding coastal views along the trail.

Trinity Harbour as seen from the Skerwink Trail by Megan Em / CC BY-SA 3.0

Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve

Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve is on the southern end of the Avalon Peninsula. The reserve is home to thousands of birds, and also features some nice coastal views and cliffs. At times you can also see whales.

Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve by Tara Joyce / CC BY-SA 2.0

Brigus

Brigus is a beautiful small town on Conception Bay of the Avalon Peninsula. it is about a one-hour drive from St. John’s.

Brigus by Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Conception Harbour

Conception Harbor is a small town on Conception Bay just a short distance south of Brigus. Possibly the most noteworthy feature at Conception Harbour are the three shipwrecks along the coast.

Conception Harbour by Joseph Novak / CC BY 2.0

Bay Roberts

Bay Roberts is a small town on Conception Bay just northwest of Brigus. You can find a beautiful, rocky shore at Bay Roberts that is ideal for photography.

Bay Roberts by Tim Moffatt / CC BY 2.0

Salmon Cove

Salmon Cove is a small town north of Bay Roberts. At Salmon Cove you’ll find a beautiful beach and coast.

Salmon Cove by Dean / CC BY-SA 2.0

Cape Spear

Cape Spear is on the Avalon Peninsula and is the easternmost point in North America. It is just southeast of St. John’s. Cape Spear is home to a historic lighthouse and a photogenic coast. The cape is officially part of Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, and Blackhead Rd. provides easy access.

Cape Spear by Kenny Louie / CC BY 2.0

Deadman’s Bay Provincial Park

Deadman’s Bay Provincial Park is along the northern coast of Newfoundland and can be a good place to see icebergs in early summer. The park also has a beautiful beach and sand dunes.

Deadman’s Bay by Jeremy T. Hetzel / CC BY 2.0

Fogo Island

Fogo Island is off the north coast of Newfoundland and is the largest of the offshore islands. The island as several small communities, is home to the recognizable Fogo Island Inn, and photographers will love the many bays and coves. The island can be reached by ferry.

Fogo Island by Timothy Neesam / CC BY-ND 2.0

Shoal Bay

On the north side of Fogo Island you will find the beautiful Shoal Bay.

Shoal Bay by Jcmurphy / Public Domain

Twillingate

Twillingate is on the Twillingate Islands off the north coast of Newfoundland. It is west of Fogo Island. Twillingate can be accessed by road from mainland Newfoundland. While the small town is quite picturesque, the icebergs are one of the main attractions here. You may also be able to see some whales.

Twillingate by Malcolm Duchamp / CC BY 2.0

Change Islands

The Change Islands lie between Fogo Island and Twillingate. There are two islands that make up the Change Islands, with the southern island being larger. The southern island includes some marshes and bogs in addition to the beautiful coast. The northern island is mostly barren. The islands can be reached by ferry and a bridge connects the two islands.

Change Islands by kaplanmyrth / CC BY-SA 2.0

St. Anthony

St. Anthony is a town near the north end of the Great Northern Peninsula. This area is a good location to spot whales and icebergs, and it also serves as a hub for the Great Northern Peninsula. You’ll also find a picturesque coastline.

St. Anthony by Michel Rathwell / CC BY 2.0

Quirpon Island

Quirpon Island is at the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula. It is about 35 km north of St. Anthony. The Quirpon Lighthouse Inn is a popular destination. Quirpon Island is another great place to see both icebergs and whales.

Quirpon Island by Chris Gushue / CC BY-SA 2.0

Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve

Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve is at the north end of the Great Northern Peninsula, west of Quirpon Island. The purpose of the reserve is to protect the arctic plants that grow here, but it also features a beautiful rocky landscape.

Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve by D. Gordon E. Robertson / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lewis Hills

Lewis Hills is a section of the Long Range Mountains on the west coast of Newfoundland. It is south of Gros Morne National Park and Bonne Bay. This remote destination is popular for backcountry wilderness hiking and reachable by the International Appalachian Trail. This rocky area provides some great views.

Lewis Hills by Aiden Mahoney / CC BY-SA 2.0

St. John’s Harbour

St. John’s is the capital of Newfoundland and located on the Avalon Peninsula. It is the largest city in Newfoundland and many visitors come to St. John’s. While you are in St. John’s you can get a great view of the harbour.

St. John Harbour by Michel Rathwell / CC BY 2.0

Signal Hill

Signal Hill is in St. John’s and provides an excellent vantage point for photographs. Signal Hill National Historic Site includes several coastal hiking trails that are well worth exploring.

Sunset on Signal Hill by Tango7471 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Quidi Vidi

Quidi Vidi is a neighborhood in St. John’s that is north and east of Signal Hill. It is a small fishing village with nice coastal views and a beautiful, rugged coastline.

Quidi Vidi by Jeremy T. Hetzel / CC BY 2.0

Petty Harbour

Petty Harbour – Maddox Cove is a town just south of St. John’s on the eastern coast of the Avalon Peninsula. This beautiful town and harbor is a great place to photograph, and you may also be able to see whales or icebergs.

Petty Harbour by Loozrboy / CC BY-SA 2.0

Cape St. George

Cape St. George is in southwestern Newfoundland at the tip of the Port au Port Peninsula. You can drive in a loop around the peninsula and you will find plenty of great coast views, including at Cape St. George.

Cape St. George by Joanna Poe / CC BY-SA 2.0

Tors Cove

Tors Cove is on the eastern shore of the Avalon Peninsula, south of Petty Harbour. This scenic town and coast is another good place to spot icebergs.

Iceberg at Tors Cove by Fabiano Rebeque / CC BY 2.0

East Coast Trail

The East Coast Trail is one of the most scenic hikes you will find. The trail extends more than 300 km along the coast of the Avalon Peninsula from Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s to Cappahayden. It is a great way to see and photography the amazing coast of Newfoundland. The trail is made up of many different sections that connect, so you can hike a small portion of the trail or use campgrounds along the trail to do to whole thing.

East Coast Trail by Rick McCharles / CC BY 2.0

Rose Blanche

Rose Blanche-Harbour le Cou is a town on the southwest of Newfoundland. The picturesque granite coastline and rocky cliffs are perfect for photographing. This is a fairly remote location at the end of Highway 470.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse by Ashley Coombs / CC BY-ND 2.0

Torngat Mountains National Park

Torngat Mountains National Park is on the Labrador Peninsula, at the north end of Newfoundland and Labrador. This wilderness park is in a remote destination and does not have a lot of access. There are no roads, but you can fly to the southern edge of the park. Boats provide access to certain parts of the park. It protects wildlife including polar bears, caribou, golden eagles, and more. For those who make the effort, Torngat Mountains National Park has a lot to offer photographers, including mountains, rugged terrain, fjords, icebergs, waterfalls, and wildlife.

Torngat Mountains National Park by Paul Gierszewski / Public Domain

Don’t Stop There!

There are many other great places to photograph in Newfoundland and Labrador. Please feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments. We will be updating this page and adding to it in the future. Some of the locations we are planning to add include:

• Akami–Uapishku – KakKasuak – Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
• Codroy Valley
• Butte du Cap
• Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve
• Granite Coast Scenic Drive
• Bay of Islands
• Mistaken Point
• White Bay
• Lower Little Harbour

Photo license links: CC BY 2.0, CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY-ND 2.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY 3.0